Falling into nature

Connellsville, PA to Ohiopyle, PA

Today was supposed to be one of the most beautiful stretches of the trail – and it did not disappoint.

We left our small town with dozens of churches – found out there were five (!)different Catholic churches – to match ethnic group of miners who had originally settled there – and soon were in the deep forests of the Alleghany, part of the Appalachian mountains.  We didn’t pass through any other city until we reached our final destination – the quaint adventure town of Ohiopyle which is completely surrounded by the state’s largest State Park of the same name.

We biked past waterfalls, small gulleys and large gorges, across bridges and through dense forest as we followed the river the whole way.  We can start to feel the elevation gain as we move closer to the Eastern Continental Divide which we will cross over in two days and then head downhill.

It seems appropriate as we pass through this gorgeous mountain scenery that we then tour Falling Water, the Frank Lloyd Wright designed summer residence, now art piece/museum that was purposely built to be part of the natural surroundings.   I have seen many photos, but in person I was able to fully appreciate how much this building merged with the rocks, the waterfall, and the trees.  It felt like it was supposed to be there – as one with nature.

Inside, the light fills the sitting area and bedrooms and beckons you to be outside on the terraces.  The dark, almost cramped hallways are intended to draw you into the taller, lighter colored rooms, and then to the even brighter open areas.  The windows open up and you can hear and feel the rushing waterfall that is the foundation of the structure.  We walk the adjacent buildings and then the well kept grounds and they all seem to fit perfectly together.  

I can see why it was recently declared a UNESCO heritage site and is a pilgrimage site for so many people.  For me it shows us how we can be part of and not take away from what is already there – How to live in harmony with all around you.  A good life lesson. 

We come back to our small adventure town and see how some are trying to keep this same ethos alive, from those who donated land for this state park decades ago to the current guides who take school age children and adventurous adults on rafting trips, hiking trails and even bike trips.  

Tomorrow we continue our own trip through nature with our longest and steepest climb of our journey. 

May we learn to take some of these lessons home with us when we end our travels.